Mothers’ Day in Texas is “Texas Mothers Fight Back Day” As 600 March Against SB 4

Mothers’ Day in Texas yesterday was energetic and impassioned, as six hundred mothers, fathers, and advocates rallied in front of Austin City Hall to shame Republican Gov. Greg Abbott over SB 4, Texas’ new draconian anti-immigrant law. On a day dedicated to honoring mothers, advocates made it clear that SB 4 will lead to the deportation of immigrant parents and the separation of immigrant families. The rally preceded today’s “100 days of resistance” launch, during which advocates announced the start of 100 days of organizing against SB 4 that will include everything from voter registration drives to civil disobedience.

As Luis Ortega, Executive Director at Immigrants United, said in a statement:

On this Mother’s day I’m here to fight back for my mother, who left everything behind. As a worker, a taxpayer and a consumer, she contributes to our economy and Texas’ success story yet we have elected officials like Greg Abbott that demonize and criminalize her and countless communities of color across the state with SB4. Through racial profiling and intimidation, they seek to scare us and push us back into the shadows but we won’t let that happen. We will organize, we will mobilize and we will fight back because we are here to stay!

Yesterday’s march was organized by University Leadership Initiative, Workers Defense Project, Grassroots Leadership, Immigrants United, Education Austin and United We Dream. Joining the marchers were Austin City Council Members Delia Garza and Greg Casar who proclaimed yesterday “Texas Mothers Fight Back Day.”